Compare towns

Henniker vs Weare vs New Ipswich vs Hillsborough

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureHennikerWeareNew IpswichHillsborough
People
Population
6,197
9,170Highest
5,310Lowest
5,980
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.5%
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
45.6±4Highest
5% above NH
36.9±2.4
15% below NH
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
Weare and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±4
NH: 18.2%
29.9%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
New Ipswich and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±3
NH: 20.1%
12.3%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
Henniker and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.2%
NH: 40.6%
32.1%
NH: 40.6%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
4.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$118,271±$17kHighest
19% above NH
$110,507±$9k
12% above NH
$84,495±$12kLowest
15% below NH
Weare and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$396,300±$26kHighest
about the NH average
$392,400±$31k
about the NH average
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
Weare and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164
27% below NH
$1,541±$214Highest
3% above NH
$882±$469Lowest
41% below NH
$1,198±$390
20% below NH
Weare and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$6,272
6% below NH
$5,647Lowest
15% below NH
$5,815
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±24.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±41.5
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
Weare and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
92.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
36 min
34% above NH
33 min
22% above NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
Weare and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #56 of 120 in NH #84 of 120 in NH #82 of 120 in NH #97 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District Mascenic Regional School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town John Stark Regional High School Mascenic Regional High School Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
11.7Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.